OSHA determined that the employer of a 25-year-old welder – who suffered fatal injuries in an explosion in July 2022 – could have prevented the tragedy by following federal workplace safety standards. OSHA learned the explosion occurred during welding operations while the work crew replaced old metal tanks with fiberglass ones at a saltwater disposal site for oil and gas fields. The explosion sent seven of the company’s employees to local hospitals, including the welder who died as a result of his injuries six days later.
Citation 2 Item 1
Type of Violation: Willful – Serious; $156,259.00
29 CFR 1926.352(i): Drums, containers, or hollow structures which have contained toxic or flammable substances were not, before welding, cutting, or heating was undertaken on them, filled with water or thoroughly cleaned of such substances and ventilated and tested.
(a) 2705 Virlilia Rd., Flora, MS 39071 – On or about July 29, 2022, employees were exposed to explosion hazards when welding a connection pipe to a saltwater disposal tank that contained flammable substances such as, but not limited to, Natural Gas Condensate C2-20, Toluene, Hydrogen Sulfide, and Benzene and the tank and piping had not been filled with water or thoroughly cleaned of such substances and ventilated and tested.
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